Point a diesel pusher north on US-19 from North Weeki Wachee and Homosassa Springs is 18 miles ahead, with the rest of Citrus County beyond. Point it south and Hudson comes up in 15. Either way, the trip depends on a coach that goes, stops and steers reliably, and that is the half of a motorhome RDI Power works on. Our Brooksville shop sits about 13 road miles and 19 minutes from central North Weeki Wachee.
What RDI fixes on a North Weeki Wachee motorhome, and what it leaves alone
A clear line up front saves a wasted appointment. Our side of the coach:
- Engines: Cummins, Caterpillar and Detroit diesels, including fuel injection, turbochargers, sensors and engine control modules. RDI Power is Caterpillar certified.
- Transmissions and drivelines: Allison automatics, driveshafts, U-joints and differentials.
- Brakes and suspension: air brakes, air bags, leveling valves, shocks, springs and bushings.
- Steering: gearboxes, power steering pumps, lines and linkage, plus alignment.
- Engine cooling: radiators, fans, water pumps, thermostats and hoses.
The living quarters are a different trade. Roofs, slide-outs, appliances, plumbing and awnings go to an RV coach technician, and we will say so when you call.
Storage season along Commercial Way
A pusher parked through a Florida summer keeps aging while it waits:
- Chassis batteries run down and sulfate unless a maintainer keeps them topped up.
- Fuel goes stale, and condensation in a partly full tank gives microbes a place to grow; the result often shows up as plugged filters on the first long climb.
- Tires dry-rot in sun and heat no matter how much tread they show, so the date code matters as much as the depth.
- Calipers seize on their pins, and parking brakes can stick, after months parked.
- Rubber of every kind, belts, hoses, seals and air bags, hardens, and fresh drips appear under a coach that was dry in spring.
A chassis inspection at the end of storage, before the first trip, finds those while they are still cheap. Every finding goes on a digital inspection with photos.
The US-19 shakedown run
A short drive on home roads before a long trip tells you a lot. Note how long the air gauges take to reach governor cut-out after a cold start; if that time has grown, suspect the compressor, the dryer or a leak. On the road, keep an eye on engine and transmission temperatures, feel for a vibration tied to road speed rather than engine speed, which often means the driveline, and pay attention to any pull when braking or wander that keeps you correcting the wheel. Our article on failing U-joints in RVs describes the early clues. Anything odd on that loop is a reason to call before you leave North Weeki Wachee, not halfway through the trip.
Engine and Allison care for North Weeki Wachee coaches
A rear engine bay is hot and crowded, so the hoses, belts and wiring back there wear out sooner than the same parts in a truck. Engine complaints start with codes and live data and end with a test that proves the cause, whether the symptom is a derate, hard starting or heat on hills. With the Allison, we read its codes and check its fluid before talking about internal work; many shift complaints have a cheaper explanation worth ruling out. Wander and uneven tire wear on a long wheelbase can come from worn linkage as easily as from settings; truck alignment in North Weeki Wachee explains how we sort that out. Coach repairs carry RDI Power’s 3-year, 36,000-mile labor warranty.
Getting a pusher from North Weeki Wachee to Donto Way
A healthy coach takes Commercial Way south to the SR-50 junction at Weeki Wachee, then Cortez Boulevard east, about 19 minutes. A coach that is leaking coolant, low on air or stuck in a single gear should stay where it is while you call (352) 433-3800. A technician may be able to diagnose a no-start at a campground or storage lot. If the coach must come in, it needs a heavy wrecker, and the tow company should know it is a rear-engine diesel so the operator protects the transmission by pulling the driveshaft or lifting the drive axle.
More on our motorhome work is on the RV service and repair page. Owners a few miles south on US-19 can read Timber Pines RV repair.